“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”

I Timothy 4:1-2

“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

II Peter 2:1-2

“Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.”

II Thessalonians 2:1-3

“Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.”

James 4:13-15

In this issue of the Last Trumpet Newsletter, we will once again examine many of today’s troubling recent events, and also carefully consider one of the root causes for many of the problems that have come to the forefront of today’s modern life. It’s a well-known fact that there is a lot of religious structure in the United States. In fact, a study performed in 2014 found that 70.6 percent of the American people identify themselves as Christians. (1) Yet, this percentage is rapidly declining and has fallen by nearly eight percentage points in just seven years. (2) Despite the significant proportion of the American population that identifies as Christian, it is made obvious by the behavior of many people today that they are not living lives founded and built upon the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Sadly, many of the religious institutions of our day suffer from poor leadership, which has led to compromise, and in some cases, the overt embracement of sin by clergy, pastors, and their congregations. This trend was highlighted in an opinion piece published on August 7, 2010, by the New York Times. In this article, a pastor by the name of Jeffrey MacDonald lamented the weakened spiritual condition of many churches today. He reported that at one point the advisory committee at his church in Massachusetts advised him to limit his sermons to ten minutes in length, tell funny stories, and “leave people feeling great about themselves.” (3)

In some cases, so-called ministers that are occupying the pulpits in American churches do not even believe in God. One such example is a man by the name of John Shuck, who is affiliated with the Presbyterian denomination. Although this man claims to be a “proud minister,” he openly admits to being an atheist, and he takes offense when folks say he is not a genuine Christian. Speaking of his faithless “faith,” Shuck was quoted as saying, “I believe one of the newer religious paths could be a ‘belief-less’ Christianity. In this ‘sect,’ one is not required to believe things. One learns and draws upon practices and products of our cultural tradition to create meaning in the present.” He further went on to say, “Belief-less Christianity is thriving right now, even as other forms of the faith are falling away rapidly. Many liberal or progressive Christians have already let go or de-emphasized belief in heaven, that the Bible is literally true, that Jesus is supernatural, and that Christianity is the only way. Yet they still practice what they call Christianity.” (4) It is quite telling that this man chose to use the words “falling away.” In II Thessalonians 2:1-3 we find the following warning from the Apostle Paul, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition.” These Scriptures make it very clear that there will be a falling away in the days leading up to the return of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, and even according to the atheist minister, that falling away has already begun and is currently in progress!

American Churches United With Planned Parenthood!

We are warned by the Apostle Paul in I Timothy 4:1-2 with the words: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.” In these verses, the Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of a hot iron, applied directly to the conscience of man, to warn us that in the latter times such people would no longer be able to discern right from wrong. The sad fact is that some ministers today are so far gone that they are now promoting the satanic practice of abortion in their churches. This development prompted the president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards, to post a message on the social networking website known as Twitter in which she proclaimed, “So grateful to the many faith leaders who stand with Planned Parenthood and our patients.” (5) In particular, Richards’ Twitter post was in reference to a Presbyterian minister by the name of Andrew Kukla. In a message posted online, Kukla showered the organization with jubilant praise. “I heart Planned Parenthood. I love these people who do not care what others will label them or say about them or even say to them. They care too much about people and too much about life to let hate and ignorance hold them back. As a Christian I am called to grace, forgiveness, mercy… and building up of those who life has torn down. And from all I learned today, some of the greatest practitioners of that are the people working at Planned Parenthood. So I say it proudly: I love Planned Parenthood. I love the people that are Planned Parenthood. I love their ministry,” Kukla wrote. (6)

A Presbyterian church in New Orleans, Louisiana, has also thrown its support behind Planned Parenthood. On March 7, 2015, the grotesque organization was allowed to hold a rally, which was attended by nearly 200 supporters, at First Presbyterian Church. (7) Speaking at the event, city councilwoman Latoya Cantrell told the audience, “It feels great to be here this afternoon knowing that the pews are filled with majority women who are standing up for the rights that we all deserve.” (8) The church itself issued a statement after the gathering took place to proudly proclaim what had just transpired. “Recently, First Presbyterian opened our doors to a [sic] impromptu Planned Parenthood rally that was enthusiastically attended by more than 200 supporters, including Councilwoman Latoya Cantrell and Susan Guidry, both of whom are passionately and consistently concerned about the state of health care in our city. We are looking forward to further events and lobbying our government in Baton Rouge for more funding for mental and physical health services in Louisiana.” (9)

Earlier in the year, the St. James Episcopal Church in Wichita, Kansas, also held an event in support of Planned Parenthood. The event, which was known as “Chili for Choice,” was used as an opportunity to raise funds, which were likely used to facilitate more abortions, from churchgoers. The gathering was held on January 22, 2015, to coincide with the anniversary of the Roe V. Wade Supreme Court decision which led to the legalization of abortion in 1973. (10) Despite heavy protests, the church was determined to follow through with their plans. “The Episcopal church says you can form your own opinion about reproductive justice and you can be against it or for it. There’s room for everybody in the Episcopal church to come together and worship God. We’ll see how this goes, but I don’t feel like changing my mind on supporting (Planned Parenthood),” church rector Dawn Frankfort declared. Amazingly enough, Planned Parenthood provided security for the event. (11)

Churches And The Climate Change Agenda!

While many churches in this modern age choose to forgo the preaching of repentance, numerous congregations are now being subjected to preaching regarding climate change. It was announced in May 2015 that the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, will be spending $84,000 on a grant to how churches can be used as a base to promote efforts to fight climate change. The study is being conducted at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and involves seventeen religious groups. The goal of the study is to seek out ways for the EPA to form partnerships with the organizations being studied and others like them. “Climate change – which affects traditional faith-based efforts to improve human health, mitigate poverty, and redress social inequity – is inspiring religious organizations to advocate for clean air and water, restore ecosystems, and conserve resources. This project seeks to understand the empirical experiences of faith-based environmental efforts within communities,” reads the text of the grant. The grant further goes on, “Through what motivations and processes do congregation level sustainability initiatives emerge? What factors facilitate and/or hinder implementation of these initiatives? What environmental and community outcomes are perceived to have been achieved through these initiatives. The results will provide insights into the role of religion and faith communities in motivating environmental behavior.” (12)

Of course, we can all appreciate clean air, and there is nothing wrong with recycling waste material when possible. However, when a government institution seeks to establish a partnership with churches, it should raise an enormous red flag. It is not difficult to imagine how such partnerships can be used to manipulate churches into doing the bidding of the EPA, and it certainly would not be a surprise if such religious institutions received financial incentives for following a prescribed agenda on climate change. In truth, extreme environmentalism is a form of religion in and of itself. In Romans 1:25, the Apostle Paul warns of those “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator…” There are many folks in this day and age who are far more concerned about the creation rather than the Creator, to the point they worship their so-called “Mother Earth.” In any case, we know from Scripture that any attempt to save planet earth will ultimately result in failure. II Peter 3:10 tells us, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” Based on these verses, you could accurately say that global warming will be quite a problem for the earth after all.

Not everyone is buying into the climate change hysteria, however. In fact, a man by the name of Maurice Newman, who serves as a business adviser to Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, recently wrote in a column for The Australian that he believes the climate change agenda is part of the United Nations’ goal to establish a new world order. On the topic of climate change, Mr. Newman wrote, “This is not about facts or logic. It’s about a new world order under the control of the U.N. It is opposed to capitalism and freedom and has made environmental catastrophism a household topic to achieve its objective.” Newman later went on to write, “They will continue to present the climate change movement as an independent, spontaneous, consensus of concerned scientists, politicians, and citizens who believe human activity is ‘extremely likely’ to be the dominant cause of global warming. And they will keep mobilizing public opinion using fear and appeals to morality.” (13) I have long believed that those in positions of authority will seek to use climate change as an excuse to control the people. If you have ever wondered what politicians and scientists really mean when they say we have to stop climate change, I recommend that you read the May 2015 issue of this newsletter, which covers the topic in-depth.

Record High Support For Same-Sex Marriage In The United States!

Public opinion has shifted on many topics in recent years. One of the most significant changes has been the shift in attitude of the American people regarding same-sex marriage. As of this writing, gay marriage is now legal in all but thirteen American states, and an estimated 2 million American adults are part of a same-sex couple. (14) Meanwhile, public approval of same-sex marriage has reached record highs according to recent polls. A poll conducted by Gallup found that 60 percent of respondents are in favor of same-sex marriage. This represents a 5 percent increase in support since 2014, and among Democrats, support has grown by an astonishing 43 percentage point since 1996. (15) In another poll, which was conducted by ABC News and the Washington Post, it was found that 61 percent of respondents support same-sex marriage. (16)

Those who support gay marriage include some of the most powerful and influential people in the United States. One such notable figure is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who has now presided over at least two same-sex weddings in recent months. The most recent of these ceremonies occurred in May 2015, and during the ceremony Justice Ginsburg placed a special emphasis on the word “constitution” as she declared the two men legally married. (17) This is ironic, since I feel confident that the framers of the United States Constitution would not have been in favor of same-sex marriage.

While it is no surprise that an ardently liberal Supreme Court Justice would support same-sex marriage, it is deeply troubling that so many religious figures and organizations in the United States have spoken favorably regarding the matter. This includes famous megachurch pastor Rick Warren who recently worked alongside homosexual singer Elton John in an address before Congress. According to reports, Rick Warren and Elton John held hands at the event, and Warren even told John that if they kissed it would be “the kiss heard ‘round the world.” (18)

Meanwhile, an advisory group for the United Methodist Church, which is known as the Connectional Table, is seeking to change the denomination’s guidelines. The proposed changes would remove any mention of homosexuality in a negative light and would pave the way for Methodist ministers to officiate at same-sex weddings. The modifications would also allow homosexuals to serve as clergy for Methodist churches. Speaking of the proposal, Bishop Bruce Ough was quoted as saying, “Our hope is that it will provide an alternative for the General Conference to consider that helps strengthen the unity of the church and allows us to move forward together as a denomination so that we can focus on our mission.” The proposed changes will be presented to the organization’s General Conference in 2016. (19)

Sadly, even a church in my hometown has voted to allow same-sex marriage. On May 17, 2015, members of the First Lutheran Evangelical Church in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, voted overwhelmingly in favor of allowing same-sex marriage ceremonies in their church. The final tally was 116 votes in favor of the resolution, with 44 votes in opposition. “It was a hard decision and we want to make sure people who were on both sides feel their opinions are respected,” declared the church’s minister, Mark Jensen. (20) The words of the Lord Jesus Christ, however, were apparently irrelevant to the church. In the 19th chapter of Matthew, Jesus clearly defines marriage as being between one man and one woman.

Witchcraft On Display In Iowa!

Even as we see many churches weakened by compromise in this modern age, the pagan religion of Wicca is thriving. So much so, in fact, that a Wiccan priestess by the name of Deborah Maynard gave the opening prayer at the Iowa House of Representatives on April 9, 2015. “We call to god, goddess, universe, that which is greater than ourselves to be here today…” Maynard said in the opening lines of her prayer, which expressed her belief in nature worship. (21) This reprehensible event was made possible by Iowa representative Liz Bennett, who is a Democrat. After facing backlash for the invitation, Bennett expressed surprise that she faced so much opposition. “I am honestly surprised that this has become a bit of a media frenzy. We do have a prayer every day in front of the body and different representatives invite different constituents from their districts, different types of pastors from denominations. So, I am a little bit surprised that it has become as controversial as it has,” Bennett said. (22) Bennett was also quoted as saying, “My purpose in inviting Deborah was not to force anyone to listen to anything they are uncomfortable listening to. Iowa is a very diverse state and I’m glad that I could do something to make our Statehouse just a little bit more opening and welcoming.” (23) After performing her prayer, Maynard told reporters, “We believe in Mother Earth, Father Sky. We believe we are all connected to the interdependent web of all existence. We love nature.” (24) According to reports, one third of the legislative body skipped the ceremony in protest, while at least one representative chose to turn his back during the prayer. (25)

Due to the inherent secrecy of the religion, it is difficult to obtain a reliable number regarding how many practicing Wiccans there are in the United States. It is interesting to note, however, that a report published in 2008 by the Christian Post declared that the number of adherents to the pagan religion double every thirty months. (26) This is just one of the many reasons the United States is in so much trouble today!

Nepal’s Deadliest Ever Disasters!

In Luke 21:11, we find the following words from our Saviour as he describes the condition of our world in the days leading up to His return: “And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.” In this verse, Jesus tells us that not only will there be earthquakes, but there will be great earthquakes. It is worthwhile to note that the trend in recent years has been a significant increase in powerful quakes, so much so that even scientists have admitted it. In fact, NBC News published a story in October 2014 with the headline, “Worldwide Surge in Great Earthquakes Seen in Past 10 Years.” (27) These quakes include a devastating temblor with a magnitude of 9.1 which struck Indonesia on December 26, 2004; a magnitude 8.8 quake that struck in Chile on February 27, 2010, and a 9.0 magnitude quake that caused widespread destruction in Japan on March 11, 2011. (28)

Sadly, the trend of great earthquakes continues, and on April 25, 2015, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook the nation of Nepal. This event, which struck 85 miles east of the country’s capital city of Kathmandu, caused the death of over 8,000 people and destroyed over 500,000 homes. Just three weeks later, on May 12, 2015, the nation experienced another powerful quake which shook Mount Everest and killed more than 100 people. (29) Experts had warned for years that Nepal was vulnerable to a deadly earthquake and had urged government officials to upgrade the infrastructure in their cities. “It was clearly a disaster in the making that was getting worse faster than anyone was able to make it better. You’re up against a Himalayan-scale problem with Third World resources,” stated Susan Hough, a geologist at the U.S Geological Survey. (30)

In the aftermath of the deadly pair of quakes, Nepal has sought to rebuild the areas that were damaged. However, efforts to do so are hampered by the fact that 80 percent of the region’s construction workers have left, likely due to fears that another deadly earthquake could strike at any time. (31)

It’s a sobering thought to realize that an earthquake, which shook for only about 30 seconds, eventually led to the death of over 8,000 people. (32) We should always be mindful of the fact that our lives on this earth are fleeting, and could abruptly end at any time. In James 4:13-15 we read, “Go to now, ye that say, Today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” None of us are promised tomorrow, but we do have an opportunity to seek God now. In Isaiah 55:6-7 we are told, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” If you have not yet fully surrendered and dedicated your life to God, I urge you to do so now.

In closing, I wish to express my thanks to all who support this ministry. We appreciate your kindness, and we are grateful to have this opportunity to serve you. If you have any prayer requests, great or small, please do not hesitate to send them our way. Your requests will be given individual attention by our intercessors. We can say with great confidence that prayer changes things as we have seen many answers to prayer over the years. Grace and peace be unto you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Comments regarding this newsletter or topic suggestions may be submitted to editor@lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.If you would like to submit a prayer request, you may send email to prayer@ltmmail.org or mail it to our postal address.